Macher



(No Model.) y

` G'. W. SCHUMAHER.

KEYHOLB GUARD.

No. 530,206. Patented Deo. 4, 1894.

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@Ntra A' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GTTSTAVE W. SCHUMACHER, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE F.

GOULD, OF SAME PLACE.

KEYHoLE-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,206, dated December 4, 1894.

Application Eled .Tune 12, 1893. Serial No. 477,388. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAvn W. SCHU- MACHER, of the city of Portland, county of Cumberland, State of Maine, United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keyhole-Guards; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

In general the nature of my present invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in door-locks. Specially it has direct relation to certain novel and ingenious improvements in the construction and operation of that particular feature of a door-lock, commonly known and designated as a keyhole guard. 1

In the accompanying drawings, which form a component part of this specification, Figure l is an elevation or side view of a common door-lock, having the side plate partially broken out to show the proper application of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections in the plane of the dotted line, w o: (of Fig. l) showing the movement of the key-hole guard when the key is inserted in the lock, from the front and back side, respectively. Fig. 4. is an enlarged detail of 'the safety attachment and wherein the operations of the deviceare fully illustrated by dotted outlines. p Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9; yand 10, are details of parts of the safety mechanism.

The same numerals of reference indicateand refer to the same parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

1 and 2 are side-plates 'of a door-lock.

3 is a key-hole.

4 is a sliding lock-bolt.

5 is a lock-bolt guide.

6 is a tumbler.

7 is a tumbler spring.

The above enumerated parts are common and usual in lock construction and form no part of my invention. They are introduced at this time to facilitate the description as it becomes necessary, farther along, to show the relation of the several new elements of invention to those parts, when all are brought into harmonious connection.

Passing to a consideration of my newly organized invention, I will rst describe the structure of the key-hole guard.

In general appearance the key-hole guard will be practically of the outline and shape delineated in the drawings, where it is represented as composed essentially of a blank 8, which is designed to cover the key-holes 3. On its upper edge the blank is provided with a notch 12 to engage with the bolt-guide 5. At 13 therblank is again notched to facilitate the operations of the key-hole guard in conjunction with the safety attachment, to be hereinafter set forth.

let is a proper seat for receiving and holdl ing a key-post, when locking or unlocking. The location of the blank 8 with reference to the other parts, will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein it is shownv as centrally placed and extending nearly the entire depth of the lock case, with the part at or about the position of the key-holes, resting directly upon the lower frame piece of the lock, and with the part farthest away from the key-hole, reaching nearly to the face plate of the lock. i

The key-hole guard is composed of any-convenient metallic substance which can be easily Wroughty into the desired shape by die stamping or by casting.

For securing the blank 8 in its proper place in the lock, the following construction has been adopted. Short posts, 9 and 92, are set upon the inside face of the side plates l and 2 respectively. At their tops, along the line of their diameters, the posts are provided with semi-circular grooves 26, to receive and nicely engage with semi-circular enlargements 27, raised on the side of the blank 8, at the end nearest the face plate. The posts are placed directly opposite each other and their height is regulated to permit free passage of the blank between their ends. By this arrangement, when the several parts are brought into union, a convenient pivot or hinge is furnished for the end of the blank.

LetlO represent the pivot point or hinge. To keep the enlargement 27 fromy falling from the groove 26 and thus breaking ythe pivot connection, a circular flange is set on the sides of the blank 8 at right angles to the semi-circular enlargements 27, and at a point midway between its ends and the ends of the posts 9 and 92, are also provided with cor- IOO responding receiving channels at right angles to the grooves 2d The uses and applications are simple and are as follows: The blank 8, covers the keyhole at all times. When it is desired to operate the lock from either` side, the key is inserted in the key-hole 3, as usual, and the keypost is slipped into the rest 14. The ykey is then pressed inwardly. This pressure causes the key-hole guard to swing upon its pivot connection in the posts 9 and 92, and throws the blank S over against the side of the lock opposite to the operator. As the blank 8 swings on its pivot or hinge, at 9', the notch 12 slips under the bolt guide 5, and any tendency of the free end of the blank to move upwardly, is overcome. The key can then be rotated at will.

From the foregoing, the nature and operation of the key-hole guard will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters.

Referring directly to Fig. 4 of the drawings, I will describe the construction of the safety attachment. 16 is a post designed to stand upon the side plate, 2, and project athwart the thickness of the lock to the side plate 1. 17 is a swivel plate or blank, loosely connected to the post 1G. This plate rests flat against the side plate 2. Resting above the swivel blank is seen a block 18, having a side projecting collar 1f), by means of which a loose connection is made with the post 16. On its under side at 25, the block is cut away to provide a shoulder to fit over and closely engage with the swivel blank, so that when the edge of the swivel blank is pressed against the shoulder at 25, the blank and block will act as if integrally connected. The upper end of the post is surrounded by a torsion spring 20. The two ends of this spring are free. The upper end is turned over and presses against the projecting collar 19. The lower end is turned downwardly and restsin a notch 21,-cut in the swivel blank 17. The function of the torsion spring is to hold the parts in proper union. The position of the safety device is at the free end of the key-hole guard.

The applications to practice of all the above parts when properly assembled, accomplish the object of the second purpose of invention.

Assume the operator to be standing on the outside of the door. The key is inserted in the lock and worked as heretofore described, either for locking or unlocking. In turning the key from this side of thelock, the key-bit slides freely over the swivel plate 17, lying upon the side plate 2, and the several operations of locking and unlocking, are readily performed without disturbing any of the parts of the safety attachment. It is manifestly desirable that when the bolt is thus thrown by a key inserted from the outside, that it should be capable of being unlocked at all times from the inside. An examination of the parts, shows that this can be accomplished. The door having been locked from the outside as heretofore described, assume the operator to be staudingfon tho inside ot' the door. The insertion of the key swings the keyhole guard to the opposite side plate. The key is rotated as usual. As the key turns,it engages the tumbler 6, and throws back the sliding bolt 4, continuing its revolution. As it leaves the tumbler 6, it strikes the off-set 22, on the rim of the swivelblank 17. This being loosely connected to the post 16, allows it to turn with the key until it reaches such an angle that the key slips oft1 the off-set 22, and is free to be removed in the usual method. The olf-set 22, as it has turned has engaged one end of the torsion spring which immediately causes it to resume its former position.

Assume the operator to stand at the inside of the lock and desirous to lock the door. The insertion of the key swings the key-hole guard to the opposite side-plate. 'lhe key is rotated as usual. As the key turns, the offset 22, on the rim of the swivel blank 17, is caught by and pushed along before the key bit, obviously causing the blank to pivotally turn upon the post 1G. This movement of the blank, by reason of the engagements of the parts in the shoulder 25, causes the block 18, to turn. Just as the key-bit strikes the tumbler G, it slips by the off-set. The swivel plate and block remain in the position left by the key-bit. Continuing in rotation the bit raises the tumbler and throws the sliding bolt et. So long as the parts remain in this position, it will be impossible to insert a key into the lock from the outside, and the lock can be unlocked by a reversal of the last operation carried on from the inside only.

Obviously by the construction and operation above set out, an effective safety lock is furnished.

Various modifications of the device herein shown can be made while keeping within the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure to myself by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the pivotally operating key-hole guard of the safety mechan ism, consisting of a swivel blank and block loosely mounted on a proper carrying post, and a post torsion spring, substantially as herein set out.

2.- In a door-lock, a pivotally acting keyhole guard consisting of a thin metal blank,

located between the side plates of the lock, extending from near the lock face inward so as to cover the key-hole, the end farthest from the key-hole, near the lock face, being convexed, with a flange in the center of said convexed end to prevent any lateral motion and loosely connected pivotally, to two posts, one standing in each of the side plates of said lock and about midway between, with concaved ends and a depression to receive the aforesaid flange, forming a loose joint or hinge, the end of the blank opposite the keyholes being movable to either side of said lock and having a concaved boss on each side of IIO said blanken a straight line with the vkeyholes to hold the shank of the key that it may be readily rotated, the top edgeof said blank being notched to engage with the lock-bolt guide, so that by inserting the key in One keyhole, the blank is made to cover the Opposite key-hole substantially as herein described.

3. In a door lock, a' key-hole guard, safety Or locking mechanism consisting essentially of a pivot or carrying post, inserted between the side plates of the lock at the end nearest, and by the side of the key-hole having a metal blank attached thereto of a sutcient thickness to ll the space between the-key-hole guard and the side plate ot' the lock, a swivel blank loosely connected to said carrying post, integrally engaging said metal blank and a post torsion spring for holding said metal blank and swivel blank in union, substantially as is herein described.

4. In a door look, the combination of a loosely pivotally acting key-hole guard blank, and a safety or locking mechanism, consisting essentially of a carrying or pivot post, having a metal blank attached thereto, a swivel blank integrally engaging said metal blank, loosely carried on said pivot post and atorsion spring for holding said metal and swivel blank in union, substantially as is herein described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I have affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GUSTAVE `W. SCHUMACHER.

Witnesses:

GEO. F. GOULD, ELINOR S. MOODY. 

